My Genealogy Hound

RICHARD E. RENO. While Pettis County has much in the way of natural resources and commercial transactions to commend it to the public, the chief interest centers in the lives of those citizens who have achieved success for themselves, and at the same time benefited the community. Prominent among this class is the gentleman above named, one of the native-born sons of the state and a resident of section 4, township 44, range 23.

Mr. Reno was born in Callaway County, in 1846, being the youngest member in the parental family. His parents were Henry F. and Priscilla (Alexander) Reno, the former of whom was born in Virginia, where he spent his early life. He afterward removed to Kentucky, making that state his home until 1828, the year of his advent into Callaway County. There he became prominent among the progressive and intelligent agriculturists, and there also he lived until his decease, in 1883.

The mother of our subject, who was a native of the Blue Grass State, accompanied her husband on his removal to Missouri, and survived him until 1892, when she, too, passed away, at the venerable age of fourscore years and four. Her son, our subject, had very limited opportunities for obtaining an education, as his services were in demand on the farm with the exception of about three months in each year. The schools, which were very inferior, were thoroughly disorganized on the outbreak of the war, so that his education has been acquired mostly by practical experience and reading. Being reared to farm work, he naturally chose that industry as his vocation in life, and has followed it with success.

Mr. Reno lived in Callaway County until 1892, when he sold his possessions there and spent the succeeding twelve months in travel, visiting Kansas and California. Returning to Missouri, he purchased the beautiful farm upon which he is now living, and which consists of one hundred and fifty acres of splendidly improved land within two miles of the thrifty little city of Green Ridge. His buildings are modern and substantial in construction, and the place is well watered and kept under such good tillage that the harvests are large and profitable.

In 1872 Mr. Reno was married to Miss Emma Dicus, who was the daughter of Hiram and Lucy Dicus, both natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Reno, who was also born in that state, is well educated, and has become the mother of two children, Eddie Roy and Alida. The parents are members of the Presbyterian Church, and are always first in all good work and ever ready to assist in any enterprise whereby the cause of Christianity or the good of the community is involved. In politics Mr. Reno is a Democrat at all times and under all circumstances, consequently is opposed to monopolies. Although his residence in this county has been of short duration, he is well and favorably known, and ranks among the substantial agriculturists of the section.